Preschool Speech Therapy: Tips and Strategies for Success
The first few years of life are a time of remarkable growth, with your little one learning and developing every day. From babbling to their first words and beyond, communication skills are the foundation for learning, social interaction, and emotional expression. However, some children may experience delays in speech or language development.
Preschool speech therapy helps young children with speech and language delays. Speech therapy sessions are designed to feel like play, making them fun and engaging while helping your child build important communication skills.
This guide will give you many ideas to help your child improve their communication skills at home and during speech therapy.
Key Takeaways:
Play as a Foundation: Storytelling, games, and creative activities are key to speech therapy. These fun approaches make sessions enjoyable while helping your child build communication skills naturally.
Speech Therapy Tailored to Your Child: A thorough evaluation by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) helps identify your child’s strengths and areas for improvement. This allows for a customized speech therapy plan designed to meet specific speech or language goals.
Parents as Partners: Parents play an active role in their child’s progress. Speech therapists provide practical strategies and techniques to support learning and growth at home.
Building Skills at Home: Consistent practice at home reinforces progress made during therapy. Speech therapists offer creative resources and activities to keep home practice effective and enjoyable.
Understanding Preschool Speech Development
Key Signs to Watch for in Preschool Speech and Language Development
What Happens During the Speech and Language Evaluation?
How Speech Therapy Sessions Work
Collaboration to Improve Speech and Language Skills
Frequently Asked Questions About Speech Therapy for Kids
How Connected Speech Pathology Can Help Improve Your Children's Communication Skills
Understanding Preschool Speech Development
As your preschooler begins developing their communication skills, it’s useful to understand the two main aspects of language development: expressive and receptive language.
Expressive Language
This refers to your child's ability to use language to communicate their thoughts, wants, and needs. Here are some milestones to look for in expressive language development:
18-24 Months: May begin using simple two-word phrases and following basic commands.
3 Years Old: Often starts using three-word sentences and asking basic questions like “What’s that?”
4 Years Old: Typically starts using more complete sentences and telling simple stories with emerging grammar skills.
Receptive Language
Receptive language development refers to your child’s ability to understand what others are saying. Here are some general milestones to keep in mind:
12-18 Months: May begin understanding simple commands and pointing to familiar objects when named.
2 Years Old: Often starts following two-step directions and understanding basic questions like “Where is your nose?”
3 Years Old: Typically begins understanding most conversations directed at them and following simple stories.
Articulation
This refers to how your child forms sounds and words. Preschoolers are still developing their oral motor skills, so some sound substitutions are common. However, by age 4, most children should be able to produce most sounds correctly, with a few exceptions (e.g., /r/ sound).
Social Skills
Communication isn't just about words! Social skills allow children to use language effectively in different situations. Preschoolers are learning to take turns, use appropriate gestures and facial expressions, and engage in conversations. If you notice challenges in these areas, seek support from your child's doctor or a speech pathologist.
Key Signs to Watch for in Preschool Speech and Language Development
Every child develops at their own pace, and communication skills are no exception. However, some signs might indicate your preschooler could benefit from speech therapy. Here are some key areas to watch for:
Difficulty with Pronunciation: While some sound substitutions are typical in early development, persistent struggles with forming certain sounds (like /r/, /s/, /th/) or unclear and mumbled speech could indicate an articulation disorder.
Limited Vocabulary: Preschoolers are constantly learning new words. However, if your child’s vocabulary seems significantly smaller than their peers’ or they have difficulty expressing themselves with appropriate words, it might be a cause for concern.
Trouble with Grammar: By preschool age, children are starting to use simple sentences with proper word order. If your child consistently struggles to form complete sentences or uses incorrect grammar structures, it could be a sign of a language delay.
Stuttering or Repetitive Speech: Occasional stuttering is common in young children, but persistent stuttering, blocking (difficulty getting words out), or rapid and repetitive speech can be signs of a fluency disorder.
Poor Social Interaction: Communication isn’t just about words! If your child has difficulty taking turns in conversation, struggles to engage with peers, or seems withdrawn in social settings, it could be related to challenges with social communication skills.
This list is not exhaustive, and every child develops differently. If you have concerns about your child’s speech or language development, it’s always best to consult your pediatrician or a speech pathologist for a professional evaluation. Early intervention can make a significant difference.
What Happens During the Speech and Language Evaluation?
The Evaluation Process
A licensed speech therapist conducts the evaluation. This initial assessment shows your child's unique strengths and challenges. Here's what you can expect:
Collaborative History Taking: The SLP will review your child's developmental history, working together with you to understand their situation thus far.
Standardized Assessments: Specific assessments will be administered to gauge your child's speech and language skills in various areas, such as articulation, vocabulary, grammar, and social communication.
Play-Based Observation: Speech-language pathologists often observe your child interacting in a play-based setting. Your child may be encouraged to engage in pretend play and follow instructions while playing with toys such as a Mr. Potato Head or even blocks.
Even though it seems casual and fun (which it should be!), this observation is a crucial part of the speech-language pathology evaluation process. The SLP is a trained professional who can glean valuable information from how your child uses language during play. Here's what they might be looking for:
Communication skills: This includes observing how your child expresses themselves verbally and nonverbally, using vocabulary and grammar, and following directions during play.
Social skills: The SLP might observe how your child interacts with the therapist or toys, takes turns, and shares with others during play-based activities.
Pragmatics: Pragmatic language refers to how your child uses language appropriately in different contexts. Play allows the SLP to see how your child uses language for other purposes, such as requesting toys, telling stories, or negotiating during pretend play.
By completing an in-depth evaluation, your speech therapist can identify language disorders, develop individualized speech goals, and recommend additional support for faster progress. The evaluation process is also a chance for you to learn more about your child's communication development and gain valuable insights.
The speech therapist will provide strategies and techniques for reinforcing the skills learned in therapy sessions at home, empowering you to actively participate in your child's communication journey.
How Speech Therapy Sessions Work
Speech therapy activities incorporate fun and exploration, creating a natural environment where your child can blossom and develop their communication skills. Imagine this:
Interactive Games: Speech therapy activities for this age group might include board games designed to target specific goals. For instance, a game focusing on articulation could involve collecting colorful fish with tongue twister names while also addressing speech therapy goals such as reinforcing basic concepts like colors and incorporating practice with sentence structure.
Storytelling Adventures: Captivating stories come alive through puppets, dolls, or the speech therapist’s dramatic storytelling. By encouraging children to participate in the narrative, the speech therapist can target speech and language goals such as vocabulary development, turn-taking skills, and even grammar usage in a natural and engaging way.
Sing Along and Learn: Songs and nursery rhymes become powerful tools for learning new vocabulary and practicing sounds and other basic concepts. The speech therapy activities might incorporate catchy tunes to target specific sounds your child struggles with, a tool for improving receptive and expressive language skills.
Building Block Conversations: Visual aids like picture cards and manipulatives like blocks become springboards for conversation in speech therapy. The speech therapist might use them to encourage your child to describe what they see, ask questions, and follow simple instructions, all while fostering social interaction and communication skills.
Colorful Communication: Speech therapy might involve writing or coloring to target various communication aspects. For instance, coloring pictures with specific themes can prompt descriptive language (“The red firetruck is zooming down the blue street!”). Coloring by numbers can encourage turn-taking and following instructions. Discussing the different colors can build vocabulary and introduce figurative language (“The sky is as blue as a blueberry!”). By incorporating coloring in a fun and creative way, the SLP can open up new avenues for communication development.
These are just a few examples of play therapy used in preschool speech therapy sessions. Incorporating the best speech therapy activities ensures that each session is effective and enjoyable for the child while supporting broader developmental areas like fine motor skills.
Collaboration to Improve Speech and Language Skills
Speech therapy is collaborative; your active participation benefits your child and supports their progress! Here are some ways you can support your child while they are participating in speech therapy:
Communication with the Speech-Language Pathologist
Build a strong relationship with your child’s speech therapist by clearly communicating your child’s language goal, specific concerns, and developmental milestones you’ve observed.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Understanding the rationale behind the therapy techniques and your child’s goals will empower you to be a supportive partner in their progress. Regularly discuss your child’s progress with the SLP and collaborate on strategies for both therapy sessions and home practice.
The Power of Parent Coaching, Even Remotely
Many speech therapy practices now offer parent coaching, which can significantly boost your child’s progress. Parent coaching equips you with the skills and strategies the speech therapist uses during therapy sessions, allowing you to become an extension of the therapy program at home. This includes various speech therapy activities that can be easily integrated into daily routines.
With a parent coaching model, you can learn how to effectively implement therapy techniques and activities into your daily routines. This will maximize the impact of each session and give you the knowledge and tools to confidently support your child’s communication development. You can also bridge the gap between therapy sessions by consistently reinforcing skills learned in a natural environment.
Technology allows effective remote coaching even if you can’t attend in-person sessions. Here’s how online parent coaching works:
Schedule regular video calls with your speech therapist to discuss progress, receive coaching on specific techniques, and ask questions in real time.
The SLP might observe you interacting with your child via videoconferencing and offer personalized feedback and guidance on implementing strategies in your home setting.
The SLP can share instructional videos, downloadable materials, and online resources to support your home practice routine.
Positive Reinforcement and Encouragement
Outside of your speech therapy sessions, focus on celebrating your child’s efforts, big or small. Positive reinforcement will motivate them to keep practicing and striving towards their goals. Encouraging your child’s play skills can also contribute to their overall communication development.
Let your child know you believe in their abilities. Use encouraging words, offer high fives, or create a reward system to celebrate their achievements. Remember, things take time, so focus on creating a positive and supportive environment that fosters a love for communication.
Frequently Asked Questions About Speech Therapy for Kids
1. At what age should a child start speech therapy?
If you have concerns about your child's communication development, speak to their pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but generally, speech therapy is as soon as you identify red flags for feeding, speech, or language disorders. Early intervention provides targeted support to help your child overcome challenges and reach their full communication potential.
2. Is it normal for a 3-year-old to not talk clearly?
Some speech sound errors are common at this age. However, if your child is struggling to be understood by most people or does not use phrases consisting of at least two words together, it's a good idea to undergo an evaluation for speech or language disorders.
3. How many words should a 2-year-old use?
By age 2, most toddlers have a vocabulary of around 50 words and start using two-word phrases. However, this can vary depending on the child. If you have concerns about your child's vocabulary development, a speech-language pathologist can assess their progress and offer guidance.
How Connected Speech Pathology Can Help Improve Your Children's Communication Skills
Connected Speech Pathology can significantly improve your child’s communication skills through personalized assessments and targeted interventions. Our therapists use engaging techniques, such as games and technology-based activities, to make learning enjoyable and effective, ensuring children remain motivated and actively involved.
Our parent coaching model is key to fostering consistent progress. By partnering with parents, we provide tailored strategies and practical tools to reinforce skills learned during therapy sessions at home. This collaboration empowers families to actively support their child’s development and helps integrate communication improvements into everyday life.
We continuously explore new speech therapy ideas to keep our sessions for articulation disorders and others innovative and effective. Regular assessments allow us to adapt therapy plans as needed, ensuring interventions are aligned with each child’s unique needs and goals. Beyond improving communication skills, our holistic approach supports social interactions, academic performance, and overall confidence, paving the way for your child’s success.
Summary
Is your preschooler struggling to communicate clearly? Play-based preschool speech therapy can help! Engaging activities and games create a fun environment where your child flourishes. A speech-language pathologist personalizes therapy to target specific needs while collaborating with parents to ensure consistent support at home.
About the Author
Allison Geller is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and the owner of Connected Speech Pathology. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Florida in Speech-Language Pathology. Allison has practiced speech therapy in a number of settings including telepractice, acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, and private practice. She has worked extensively with individuals across the lifespan including toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, and adults. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of communication disorders including receptive/expressive language disorders, articulation disorders, voice disorders, fluency disorders, brain injury, and swallowing disorders.
Allison served as the clinical coordinator of research in aphasia in the Neurological Institute at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. She is on the Board of Directors for the Corporate Speech Pathology Network (CORSPAN), a Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) certified clinician, and a proud Family Empowerment Scholarship/Step-Up For Students provider. Allison is passionate about delivering high quality-effective treatment remotely because it’s convenient and easy to access. What sets us apart from other online speech therapy options is—Allison takes great care to hire the very best SLPs from all over the country.
